DESD Launch in New Zealand
The United Nations has declared the years 2005-2014 as the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. Following the international launch on 1 March 2005, at UN Headquarters in New York, the Decade was launched in New Zealand on 5 March 2005 in conjunction with ECOSHOW in Auckland.
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has been designated by the UN as the lead agency for the promotion of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. The goals, emphases and processes have been defined in Aotearoa, New Zealand to meet local environmental, social and economic conditions in culturally appropriate ways by the New Zealand Coordinating Committee, chaired by Rob Fenwick, prominent businessman and advocate for sustainable development.
The New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, based in Wellington, is the New Zealand focal point for the first year of the Decade and for the Coordinating Committee.
At the launch, Margaret Austin, Chair of the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO said, “here in New Zealand we are determined to be innovative and to generate interest and awareness of the issues, to disseminate information and coordinate activities in a way which we hope will capture the attention of the public and lead to real sustainable livelihoods for everyone.”
The coordinating committee members are:
- Rob Fenwick, Chair (and Director Living Earth, NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development)
- Margaret Austin, NZ National Commission of UNESCO Chair
- Barry Law, a lecturer at the Christchurch College of Education
- Anne Molineux, with UN Youth Association of NZ
- Raina Meha, a consultant with Kowhai consulting
- Greg Menendez, director of Brand Ecology
- Bob Harvey, Mayor of Waitakere City
- Anna Mahoney, from the Ministry for the Environment
- Barry Coates, director of Oxfam NZ
- Ian Spellerberg, a professor at Lincoln University
- Pam Williams, a lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington
- Fuimaono Les McCarthy, the CEO of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs
- Helen Beaumont, Assistant Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
- Rob McIntosh, from the Ministry of Education
- John Hutchings, from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Edward Ellison Kaumatua of Ngai Tahu
“It is important that all interested people take ownership of the potential of the Decade if we are to capture the ‘heads, hearts and hands’ of New Zealanders” said Rob Fenwick at the New Zealand launch of the Decade.
If you are interested to be involved in Decade of Education for Sustainable Development activities – whether you want to sponsor a new activity or already have a project running - you may contact the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO through their website.
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